Communities of Color

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Communities of Color Clean Indoor Air
PoliciesChallenges Opportunities

• Elva Yañez
• The Praxis Project
• November 2002

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Overview

• Research Findings
• Analysis Interpretation
• Challenges to Overcome
• Recommendations Tactics
• Recommendations Data
• Policy Advocacy Framework
• Grassroots Approach
• Conclusions

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Research

• Secondhand Smoke (SHS)
• Exposure Rates Among
• Racial/Ethnic Groups

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SHS Exposure Data SourcesSource CDC Tobacco
Information andPrevention Source (TIPS)

• Adult Tobacco Survey (State)
• Adult Use of Tobacco Survey (National)
• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  (State)
• Current Population Survey (National State)
• National Health Nutrition Examination Survey
  (National)
• National Youth Tobacco Survey (National)
• Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System
  (State)
• Youth Tobacco Survey (State)

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Surgeon Generals Report on Tobacco Use Among
U.S. Racial /Ethnic Minority Groups (1998)

• Data on exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
  (ETS) among members of U.S. racial/ethnic
  minority groups are extremely limited.
• Despite the number of data sets with SHS data and
  the passage of five years, this assessment
  remains true

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SHS Exposure ResearchCurrent Population Survey

• Continuous monthly survey of 100,000 American
  workers, focusing on labor force indicators for
  the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Tobacco Use Supplement developed by NCI assessed,
  among other things, presence restrictiveness of
  workplace smoking policies in 1993, 1996 and
  1999.
• Universe included African Americans, Latinos,
  Asian/Pacific Islanders and Native Americans

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Smokefree Workplace Policy CoverageSource
Current Population Survey 1995-1996,
1998-1999Prepared by California Dept. of Health
Services, Tobacco Control Section, January, 2002
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SHS Exposure Research Current Population Survey
Findings

• Among the various racial/ethnic groups, American
  Indians and Latinos are less likely to be covered
  by a complete smokefree workplace policy than
  other racial/ethnic groups
• Inequities in exposure are persistent over time
• Findings consistent with California Tobacco
  Survey data

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Understanding High Rates of Exposure to
Secondhand Smoke Among People of Color

• Many white collar workplaces go smokefree
  voluntarily blue collar and service
  industrieswhere large numbers of people of color
  are employedare less likely to do so
• Local and state clean indoor air laws often
  exempt restaurants and bars, hotel/motel
  industry, warehouses, etc.

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Understanding High Rates of Exposure to
Secondhand Smoke Among People of Color

• Workplace power dynamics, compounded in some
  cases by immigration status or language
  difficulties, present barriers to seeking
  protections against SHS in the workplace
• Lack of resources to support clean indoor air
  policy advocacy infrastructure and activity in
  communities of color

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Research

• Opinion Data on
• Secondhand Smoke
• Clean Indoor Air Policies

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Data Sources Source Surgeon Generals Report on
Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial /Ethnic Minority
Groups

• Current Population Survey
• ABC News/Washington Post (Roper Center for Public
  Opinion Research, 1993)
• California Tobacco Survey
• Market Strategies

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SHS Opinion Research Market Strategies Public
Opinion Poll

• Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  conducted in 2002 by Market Strategies to provide
  a basis for message development by the Campaign
  for Tobacco Free Kids and Americans for
  Nonsmokers Rights
• Universe of 905 individuals over sampling of
  African Americans (101) and Latinos (103)

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Market Strategies Survey Findings Hazard vs.
Annoyance

• Compared to White voters, African American and
  Latino voters are more likely to believe that
  secondhand smoke is more of a health hazard than
  an annoyance

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Would you say that secondhand smoke is more of a
health hazard, or more of an annoyance to people?
Source Market Strategies Survey, 2002
Health Hazard or Annoyance
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Market Strategies Survey Findings Occupational
Risks

• More so than White voters, African American and
  Latino voters believe that secondhand smoke is a
  serious health hazard for hospitality and office
  workers

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Here are some situations where people may be
exposed to SHS. For each situation would you say
that SHS is a serious health hazard, a moderate
health hazard, a minor health hazard or not a
health hazard Source Market Strategies Survey,
2002
Occupational Risks
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Market Strategies Survey Findings Workers Rights

• More so than White voters, African American and
  Latino voters believe that waiters and other
  restaurant workers have no choice about SHS
  exposure and deserve the same protections as
  other workers

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A. Waiters other restaurant employees have no
choice about exposure to SHS deserve the same
workplace protections afforded to others.B.
Waiters other restaurant employees have a
choice as to where they work, know when they
apply for a job that they will be exposed to SHS
and should make employment decisions with that in
mind.Source Market Strategies Survey, 2002
Workers Rights
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Market Strategies Survey Findings Nonsmokers
Rights

• More so than White voters, African American and
  Latino voters believe that it is the right of
  nonsmokers to breathe clean air where they shop,
  work and eat

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A. Although SHS is a serious health hazard, most
people are not exposed long enough to cause
problems.B. Although many people are not exposed
to SHS for long periods, even a small amount is
hazardous and it is the right of nonsmokers to
breathe clean air.Source Market Strategies
Survey, 2002
Nonsmokers Rights
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Market Strategies Survey Findings Support
forSmokefree Laws

• Support for laws prohibiting smoking in indoor
  places (workplaces, public places and
  restaurants) is stronger among African American
  and Latino voters than White voters.

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Would you support or oppose a law that would
prohibit smoking in most indoor places, including
workplaces, public buildings and restaurants, but
excluding bars? Source Market Strategies
Survey, 2002
Support For Smokefree Laws
Ethnicity
Gender
Total numbers are rounded
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Market Strategies Survey Findings Government
Responsibility

• White voters prefer municipal smokefree policies
  while African American and Latino voters favor
  state smokefree policies

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Which level of government should be mainly
responsible for setting smoking policies for
public places, including workplaces and
restaurants the state government or the local
government? Source Market Strategies Survey,
2002
Support For Smokefree Laws
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Research

• Other Relevant Data

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Supportive Research FindingsSource California
Tobacco Surveys, California Dept. of Health
Services, Tobacco Control Section, 1992-999

• The California Tobacco Survey found higher rates
  of smokefree homes among Latinos and
  Asian/Pacific Islanders than Whites and African
  Americans.

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Children and Adolescents Living in Smokefree
Homes, by Race/Ethnicity Source California
Tobacco Surveys, California Dept. of Health
Services, Tobacco Control Section, 1992-999
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Supportive Research FindingsSource Legacy First
Look Report 6 Youth Exposure to Environmental
Tobacco Smoke, American Legacy Foundation, 1999

• American Legacy Foundation research (1999
  National Youth Tobacco Survey and the Legacy
  Media Tracking Survey) found that Latino youth
  have the least amount of home-based SHS exposure,
  followed by Whites and African Americans.

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Analysis of Research Findings

• Disproportionate rates of occupational SHS
  exposure for specific communities of color even
  with improvements in coverage over time,
  inequities persist
• There are significant cultural differences in the
  understanding of
• health risks associated with secondhand smoke
• workers rights and nonsmokers rights
• support for smokefree laws
• role of government in protecting the public from
  the dangers of secondhand smoke

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Analysis of Research Findings

• Data suggest the greatest need regarding
  occupational SHS exposure in many African
  American and Latino communities may be policy
  advocacy infrastructure and capacity building,
  not education
• Data support the allocation of resources for
  smokefree policy initiatives in Latino and
  African American communities
• Cultural differences in attitudes and beliefs
  reinforce the need for culturally competent
  organizing strategies, tactics, and media
  messages

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Unrealized Opportunity

• Strong support for clean indoor air policies
  coupled with high rates of exposure provide a
  significant opportunity for organizing around the
  issue of secondhand smoke in communities of color
• Nonetheless

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Tobacco Controls Challenge

• Communities of color have not received the
  support and resources to build infrastructure,
  organize and mobilize for effective clean indoor
  air campaigns
• Mainstream coalitions have convincingly
  demonstrated that sustained support and resources
  are pre-requisites to successful action on this
  issue.

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Notable Campaigns in Communities of Color

• Las Cruces, NM
• Albany, GA
• Bethel, AK
• El Paso, TX

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Other Challenges to Overcome

• Competing priorities with regard to social and
  health issues
• Exclusive institutional structures (govt
  agencies, funder requirements, independent sector
  organizations, mainstream coalitions)
• Limited available data specific to racial/ethnic
  groups (lack of state specific data, data
  regarding non-voters, etc.)
• Tobacco industry sponsorship philanthropy

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Culturally Competent OrganizingRecommended
Tactics

• Frame tobacco control as a window of opportunity
  for community empowerment
• Frame secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace
  as a workers rights / health justice issue
• Use workplace exposure data to support health
  justice framing
• Use home exposure public opinion data to
  reinforce cultural strengths

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Culturally Competent OrganizingRecommended
Tactics

• Encourage partnership with mainstream coalitions
  (dialogue struggle)
• Hire culturally competent organizers
• Recruit long time, savvy activists and organizers
  to mobilize existing groups
• Recruit individuals with compelling impact
  stories
• Be willing to share power and resources

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Data Recommendations

• Analyze existing data sets to provide
  racial/ethnic SHS exposure rates in specific
  settings over time

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Data Recommendations with Policy Implications

• Enhance secondhand smoke exposure data collection
  activities
• Conduct national state surveys specifically on
  workplace exposure
• Over sample on all racial/ethnic groups and
  subgroups
• Investigate relevant cultural political issues
  (e.g., language, acculturation, country of
  origin, voting history, community involvement,
  etc.)
• Look to the California Tobacco Survey as a
  potential prototype

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A Framework for Success

• Legislated vs. voluntary policies
• Community change vs. individual change
• Local vs. state policies
• Grassroots vs. grass tops approach

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Policy Advocacy Process

• Community-level education
• Grassroots organizing
• Leadership development
• Public debate / Media coverage
• Community mobilization
• Opposition push-back
• Legislative action

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A Proven Solution

• Educate, organize and empower individuals and
  organizations affected by the problem
• Develop, implement and be prepared to defend
  effective policies to reduce, prevent or
  eliminate the problem

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Organize grassroots Develop/demonstrate
authentic people power Overcome special
interests Achieve policy goals protect
victories
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Results in...

• Change in cultural norms, community standards and
  environments
• Significant public support for strong, effective
  local policy

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Health Outcomes

• Reductions in rates of disease and death
• Nonsmokers protected from health risks associated
  with secondhand smoke
• De-normalization of tobacco use
• Adults quit smoking
• Youth dont start
• Stronger, healthier communities
• Skilled advocates

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Purpose of Organizing--Anthony Thigpen,
A.G.E.N.D.A. (Action for Grassroots Economic
Neighborhood Development Alternatives)

• To assist people in moving themselves
• from a point of perceived powerlessness and
  ineffective/non-productive action
• to a point of recognized/realized powerfulness
  and effective constructive action

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Purpose of Organizing--Anthony Thigpen,
A.G.E.N.D.A. (Action for Grassroots Economic
Neighborhood Development Alternatives)

• The grassroots approach assumes that the affected
  community knows
• the issues / appropriate actions
• problems / salient solutions
• questions/ adequate answers

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And that.

• The community has the fundamental right and
  inherent capability to define and describe what
  it knows, and determine the direction needed to
  deal with the issues at hand.

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Success Factors--Adapted from Anthony Thigpen,
A.G.E.N.D.A.

• Compelling issue
• Sufficient grassroots base of support (organized
  and educated)
• Strategic coalition building (representative
  relevant)
• Effective strategy and dynamic campaign
• Effective organizers
• Ability to effectively expose and counter
  opposition tactics

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Conclusions

• Until recently, the strong support and natural
  constituency of communities of color for clean
  indoor air policies has gone untapped
• To achieve long-term sustainable success, the
  tobacco control movement must invest adequate
  resourcestime, money, people, and
  expertisedirectly into these communities to
  organize, build capacity and infrastructure, and
  advocate for policy change

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Conclusions

• Timely, relevant data enhances advocates ability
  to organize and mobilize communities on an issue,
  and provides necessary support for strong,
  effective policies
• Addressing disparities is not only the right
  thing to do, it is an important strategic means
  to reach our common policy goals

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Our Job is to Move People

• If you want to move people, it has to be toward
  a vision thats positive for them, that taps
  important values, that gets them something that
  they desire, and it has to be presented in a
  compelling way that they feel inspired to
  follow.
• --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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• Sí se puede!
• --Cesar Chavez
• For more information, contact
• www.thepraxisproject.org
• eyanez_at_thepraxisproject.org